My Second Month of Homeownership

getting REAL and HONEST today on the blog: sharing my thoughts on my SECOND month of homeownership. I've finally had a few victories with my fixer upper! thinking of buying a home? pin for later & read more on jojotastic.com

While I can say that the first month was decidedly rough, the second month of homeownership has been WAY better. For one, I had my first true ‘victory’ in the house — my amazing deck makeover. When I first moved in, I knew exactly what I wanted the outdoor space to look like. While the yard and area surrounding the deck still resemble a construction-site-meets-overgrown-jungle, the deck itself is exactly what I had in mind. The fact that one project finally went right feels huge. It sort of feels like everything I saw in the house when I decided to buy it is still there, just waiting for me to put in the elbow grease.

getting REAL and HONEST today on the blog: sharing my thoughts on my SECOND month of homeownership. I've finally had a few victories with my fixer upper! thinking of buying a home? pin for later & read more on jojotastic.com

This victory also feels like I can trust my instincts more when it comes to home improvements I plan to make. It was really risky to paint the French doors black. But I did my research (including photoshopping a photo of the doors) juuuust to make sure.

And WOW, did they turn out. Currently, the black French doors are my absolute favorite part of the house. When I work from home, I leave them open, letting the cat and dogs wander in and out. The breeze that blows through is divine. But aesthetically… they simply take the bungalow to a whole new level. Way more mature, way less sad and neglected. Finally, something that is polished and finished.

I also finally made a selection of white shelves from Crate & Barrel. As I shared in my last post, I was totally paralyzed by decision making and couldn’t even pick a set of shelves. It is such a relief to have unpacked my books.

getting REAL and HONEST today on the blog: sharing my thoughts on my SECOND month of homeownership. I've finally had a few victories with my fixer upper! thinking of buying a home? pin for later & read more on jojotastic.com

Also, introducing my new chair, which has been a great addition to the space. In the afternoons, you can find me here basking in the sun and maybe napping…

I have a HUGE project in the works for the living room soon, so be sure to check back in for that.

getting REAL and HONEST today on the blog: sharing my thoughts on my SECOND month of homeownership. I've finally had a few victories with my fixer upper! thinking of buying a home? pin for later & read more on jojotastic.com

I still have so many more projects ahead of me. I’m still tackling the yard, something that I’ve found gives me so much joy. I planted an sweet little herb garden full of sweet Kentucky mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage. I also added two plants that I swore I’d grow in bunches ever since I was a little girl — lilac and lavender. Most mornings, with my coffee in hand, I go outside to admire the growth of my small garden. I am so proud of myself for how much it’s flourished in just these few weeks and just know my grandpa would be, too.

Month #2 has been decidedly WAY gentler on me. The house feels more and more like home and a place where I truly enjoy spending time. I’ve got loads of before photos of the entire house to chair with you guys, so be sure to subscribe to my new mailing list to be the first to see those!

What do you think of all the progress I’ve made?

photography by Jojotastic on Instagram.

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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4 Comments

  1. 6.28.16
    Lisa said:

    I’m glad you’re feeling better about your progress!

    We closed on our Lancaster City house on 3/31, finished moving 4/31, and I still feel like we’re living in chaos and squalor. It’s really frustrating. But throw in traveling every month, and it just takes soooo loooonnnggggg to get things where you want them. I’m trying to be happy where I’m at, but I still don’t feel great enough to have people over, even though I want to prioritize making friends in my new city. Definitely a strange phase, but I’m looking forward to getting things straightened out over the next little while.

    • 6.28.16
      joanna said:

      I hope you start feeling settled more and more! Moving is such a big undertaking, so be sure to take it slow (advice I should take from myself!). Hang in there!

  2. 6.4.16
    Amy said:

    So happy for you! The doors look great!

    • 6.6.16
      joanna said:

      thank you! i am still loving them SO much.